Gas producer



J. DANIELS Aug. 19, 1941.

GAS PRODUCER Filed Dec. 8, 1959 Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES.PATENT. OFFICE ass raonucaa Joseph Daniels, Essen, Germany, .a'ssignor,by I name assignments, to Koppel-s Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation. of Delaware Application December s, 1939, Serial No.308,299

- In Germany December 8, 1938 7 Claims.

ing member independently of one another in such away that the hot ashdoes not come into contact with the supporting frame for the agitatingmember shaft and the bearings for same.

According to the invention, the supporting frame for the agitator shaft,and the bearing, as well as the drive, for the agitator shaft aresituated underneath the ash receptacle casing in a central recess in thesame and are supported on the ash receptacle casing which is firmlyconnected with the gas producer shaft. The supporting frame ispreferably constructed conically corresponding to the central recess inthe ash receptacle casing, the outer rim of this cone being slidable ina revolving manner on a bearing face which is attached to the ashreceptacle casing. The supporting frame for the agitating memberisrotated by means of a suitable drive arranged outside the ashreceptacle casing and the gas producer, respectively.

In the gas producer constructed according to this inventlon, the hot ashpressed by the agitatins-member through the grate openings does not comeinto contact with the supporting frame and the drive for the agitatorbut instead they lie in a cool zone. Thus a warping of the supportingframe, as a result of the heat accumulating in the hot ash, is safelyprevented and the exact central position of the agitating member isassured. Furthermore the drive and the bearing are not soiled by thepenetrating ash.

Other features of the invention consist in providing the supportingframe for the agitator shaft with a rim-like extension directeddownwards at the circumference of which is disposed the gear toothsystem for the drive of the agitating member. Furthermore the bearingfor the pinion engaging in the teeth of this driving rim is arrangedoutside on the ash receptacle casing.

This invention also has for its object to arrange within thesubstantially annular ash receptacle casing an ash scraper held by amovable supporting ring and separately driven which scraper dischargesthe ash into a suitable outlet of the ash receptacle casing.

Furthermore this invention comprehends the provision of a ring extensionunderneath the support for the horizontal grate on its circumference,the producer shaft bricklining with intervening space extending down tounderneath the plane of the top of the grate on this ring extension. Atthe end of the agitating member there is arranged a downwardly directedextension which extends to near the ring extension of the grate support.

Finally another advantage of this invention is that the bearing facesfor the support of the agitating member shaft are adjustable on thebearing point axially and radially to the axis of the agitating member.

The main feature of the apparatus embodying my invention is that itmakes it possible that the drive and the bearing for the highly stressedagitating member are freely accessible from outside and are inparticular exactly adjustable so that the bearing and the drive will notonly be properly attended to but they may even be exactly adapted withrespect to any alterations made to the shape of the lower part of thegas producer. 1

Further objects and features of my invention will be in part obvious andin part specifically pointed out in the description hereinaftercontained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,discloses a preferred embodiment thereof; such, embodiment, however, isto be considered merely as illustrative of its principles. In thedrawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the lower part of a gas producerconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the ring extension arranged on thegrate support and of the lower end of the bricklining of the gasprostationary horizontal grate 6 over which rotates a wa er-cooledagitating member I. The grate 6 is supported at the circumference by asupport 8 having the shape of a ring and in the middle by a carrying rim9 forming part of the ash receptacle casing l0.

As may be seen from the drawing, the ash receptacle casing to isconnected with the supports 5. The casing III has essentially the shapeof an annular body with an annular conically tapered bottom of the formof an inverted cone in cross form of steps extending downwardly from thecircumference l2 of the ash receptacle casing ill towards the center ofthe casing Ill.

The lower ribs or webs I3 carry a supporting ring II to which isattached a bevel gear tooth rim i5, said tooth rim being driven throughthe pinion l8 by means of chain gearing i1 outside the casing II]. Tothe tooth rim ii there is fixed an ash scraper [8 which moves over thebottom of the ash receptacle casing "I thus discharging the ashaccumulating on the bot-' tom into the ash outlet pipe IS.

The agitating member 1 revolving over the grate 6 has in the center acylindrical extension 20 extending downwards which extension serves as adriving shaft for the agitating member I. The agitating member 1 and thepivot 20 are preferably made as a combined cast steel body.

The driving shaft 20 extends through the central carrying rim 9 of theash receptacle casing- I and reaches outside of the bottom of the ashreceptacle casing ID. A gas-tight connection between the shaft 20 andthe casing I0 is arrived at by means of a stufllng box seal 2|.

An annular, preferably conical, supporting frame 22 is rigidly connectedwith the lower end of the shaft 20, the connection .between therevolving supporting frame 22 and the shaft end 20 being secured bywedges 23 or in another suitable manner. The supporting frame 22 isfitted at the circumference with a rim projection 24 being T-shaped inits cross section and serving as a bearing body. Annular upper and lowerbearing parts 25, which may likewise be divided into several segments ifnecessary, fit against the outer surface of the annular hearing body 24.These bearing rings 25 are under the influence of the upper adjustingscrews 26, the lateral adjusting screws 21, and the lower adjustingscrews, 28 in such a manner that the bearing rings 25 may be setradially towards as well as axially of the axis of the pivot 20. Saidadjusting screws are supported on an annular projection of the ashreceptacle casing I0,

and on a suitable rim 52 preferably divided i'rom' but fixed onto thecasing In by screws 53. Between the rim 52 and the bearing rings 25there is a divided pressure ring 54 loosely provided therein.

As may be seen from the drawing, the hearing projection 24 of thesupporting frame 212 is of a very large diameter as compared with thediameter of the agitator shaft so that a proper supporting of theagitator shaft even against the high stresses occurring during theoperation of the gas producer is assured. Due to the adjustability ofthe bearing in radial as well as in axial direction of the revolvingaxis of the agitator shaft 20 there is the possibility of adapting therange of the movement of the agitating member 1 exactly to the desiredposition and shape of the horizontal grate 6. The agitating member I cantherefore be reset also during the operation of the gas producer in sucha manner that it moves exactly at the desired distance over the face ofthe grate 6.

The supporting frame 22 for the agitator shaft 20 has an annularextension 29 directed downwardly to which is rigidly attached thedriving part 3| which is equipped with worm tooth gear system 30 forrotation of the agitating member I.

A worm 32 carried in a supporting arm 33 engages the worm tooth gearsystem 30. Said supporting arm 33 is firmly connected with the rim 52which is attached to the ash receptacle casing ID and its exact positionis likewise adjustable in correspondence with the adjusting possibilityof the supporting frame 22 which carries the driving part 3|.

Due to this connection arrangement of the driving means with theagitating member 1, security is given that allthe parts of the drive,even at maximum stressing, maintain their proper position so that ajamming within the drive or aunilateral stressing of thecircumferentialtooth system of the agitating member drive 3| may easilybe avoided.

As likewise shown. in the drawing. the sup-.

port 8 for the grate 6 is equipped with a com tinuous horizontalextension 50. Between the inner face of the shaft wall 2 and thecircumference of the grate support 8 there is a free space 56. Theprojections 34, arranged at the ends of the agitating member I, extendinto the thus formed free space 56.. Furthermore the bricklining 2 ofthe producer shaft jacket reaches down to underneath the plane of theupper parts of the grate 6. This arrangement assures that all the partsof the shaft adjacent to the grate can be maintained at a favorable highoperating temperature. The ash accumulating on the grate bottom will notform any lumps, the crushing of which is practically impossible duringnormal operation. On the other hand, the ash is discharged also by theprojection 34 of the agitating member 1, through the space 35 betweenthe supporting plate 4 of the producer shaft bricklining and the annulargrate support with its projection 50, into the ash receptacle casing IIIwhich procedure is of advantage insofar as lumps which do not fallthrough the grate openings also may be removed through this joint.

In order to be able to remove ash lumps from the gas producer when theoperation is interrupted, openings 36, which may be closed by the lids31, are provided on the same level as the grate of the producer shaftjacket.

The gasifying media for instance steam, or air and steam may beintroduced into, and the water gas evolved during the downrun period ofthe water gas process may be withdrawn from the ash receptacle casingthrough the pipe 38.

The agitating member I is adapted for rotating over the horizontal grate6 and is equipped with a water cooling system. The cooling water isdelivered through the hollowing agitator shaft 20, which for thispurpose is fitted below with a connecting pipe 39 coupled to coupling4|, having a stationary cooling water inlet pipe 42 and outlet pipe 41,by means of a stun?- ing box 40. The cooling water is led through thebranch 42 and then flows through the connecting pipe 39 into the shaft20 from where it is led oil into the cavity of the agitating member 1which is suitably fitted with a central partition 43 (see arrow 44). Atthe ends of the agitating member I the cooling water flows into thespace above the partition 43 (see arrow 45) and is finally dischargedthrough an outlet pipe 46 provided in the shaft 20. The lower end of theoutlet pipe 45 is connected with the outlet branch 41. The couplingmeans for the intake and oiftake of the cooling water (see part 4|) aremounted on a special frame 48 which is suitably fastened to the bottomor the supports of the gas producer.

As shown in Fig. 2 the annular circumferen the outside. Also thebrickwork support IOI is inclined thereto.

The inclination of the circumferential slot I02 thus formed, whichserves for the ash extraction is advantageous since the ash accumulatesin the sloped slot, thus affording an effective closure for the slotagainst the passage therethrough of the gasifying media, and hot airblast introduced to the fuel bed from underneath the grate into thespace above the grate. These media are therefore forced to flowpractically only through the openings in the horizontal grate B into thegas producer shaft. At the part of the producer shaft bricklining nearthe slot I02, the temperature remains therefore practically equal whichis of special advantage for the life of the bricklining. This effect maystill be improved by having the openings on the circumference of thegrate provided at a certain distance from the producer shaft wall.

At the height of the intervening space I02 there is still furtherprovided, in the wall of the casing, a closable opening 51 through whichany accumulations of ash lumps may be removed, if necessary.

I have now above described my present invention on the lines of apreferred embodiment thereof but my invention is not limited in all itsaspects to the mode of carrying it out as described and shown, since theinvention may be variously embodied within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A gas producer comprising an annular shaft with an outer casing, astationary grate provide with openings for the passage of ash andgaseous media therethrough, an agitating member mounted for rotationover the upper surface of the grate. an ash receptacle casing underneaththe grate firmly connected with the casing of the gas producer shaft, acentrally disposed driving shaft for said agitating member extendingthrough the grate and the ash receptacle casing, said ash receptaclecasing supporting the middle of-the grate and having a central conicalwall around the driving shaft, an adjustable annular bearing for thesupporting shaft disposed outside of but beneath the ash receptaclecasing, a supporting frame firmly connected with the driving shaft andlying outside the ash receptacle but substantially in the area of thecentral conical wall of the ash receptacle casing and arranged rotatablyin said annular bearing.

2. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which the supportingframe for the driving shaft of the agitating member is provided with acircumferential extension below the annular bearing having fastenedthereto a driven ringgear, and in which an operating gear therefor isarranged in a bearing fastened to the outside of the bottom of the ashreceptacle casing.

8. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which the supportingframe for the driving shaft of the agitating member is provided witha'circumferential extension below the annular bearing having fastenedthereto a driven ringgear, and in which an operating gear therefor isarranged in a bearing fastened to the outside of the bottom of the ashreceptacle casing, said supporting frame having on its circumference avertical rim with a centrally disposed outwardly extending horizontalrib, and in whichthe annular bearing is constituted of spaced upper andlower vertically slldable rings provided with adjusting screws operablefrom above and below and an encompassing ring laterally adjustable andoperable by adjusting screws from the side, for axial and radialadjustment of the setting of the supporting frame and the agitatingmember, said centrally disposed outwardly extending horizontal rib beingrotatably slidable within the rings of the adjustable bearing.

, 4. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which a ring ismounted for sliding rotation inside the ash receptacle casing and inwhich an arm is attached to the ring, said arm reaching to the bottom ofthe ash receptacle casing and having an ash scraper thereon, saidsliding ring having a ring-gear, a pinion therefor, and a driving shaftfor said pinion extending through the ash receptacle casing to theoutside of same.

5. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which the shaft isconstituted of brickwork extending down to a level underneath the top ofthe grate, said brickwork being carried by an annular plate connectedwith the producer shaft casing, and in which the inner wall surface ofthe brickwork of the producer shaft is spaced from the outer extremityof the grate to leave a free annular space, and in which said grate hasan ash retaining shelf extending from the bottom of the grate underneathsaid free space and reaches out underneath the shaft brickwork at aspaced distance therefrom to prevent gaseous media from flowing aroundthe grate through said free annular space.

6. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which the shaft isconstituted of brickwork extending down to a level underneath the top ofthe grate, said brickwork being carried by an annular plate connectedwith the producer shaft casing, and in which the inner wall surface ofthe brickwork of the producer shaft is spaced from the outer extremityof the grate to leave a free annular space, and in which said grate hasan ash retaining shelf extending from the bottom of the grate underneathsaid free space and reaches out underneath the shaft brickwork at aspaced distance therefrom to prevent gaseous media from flowing aroundthe grate through said free annular space, and in which the agitatingmember comprises a beam having a downwardly directed extension at bothends. said extensions reaching into the free annular space between theshaft brickwork and the outer grate extremity.

'7. A gas producer as claimed in claim 1, and in which the shaft isconstituted of brickwork extending down to a level underneath the top ofthe grate, said brickwork being carried by an annular plate connectedwith the producer shaft casing, and in which the inner wall surface ofthe brickwork of the producer shaft is spaced from the outer extremityof the grate to leave a free annular space, and in which said grate hasan ash retaining shelf extending fromthe bottom of the grate underneathsaid free space and reaches out underneath the shaft brickwork at aspaced distance therefrom to prevent gaseous media from flowing aroundthe grate through said free annular space, the annular supporting platefor the brickwork of the producer shaft being inclined towards theinterior of the shaft, and the ash retaining shelf of the grate beinglikewise inclined substantially parallel thereto.

JOSEPH DANIELS.

